InthispositionofaffairsColonelGordonsucceededtothecommandinthespringof1874。AlthoughtheBaritribe，whichhadbeensubdued，wasnominallyatpeace，itwashardlysafetotravelthroughthecountrywithoutanarmedescort。
ColonelGordon’sfirsteffortwasinfavourofconciliation，withthehopeofinspiringafriendlyspiritamongthechiefs。Atthesametimeheresolvedtoofferachanceforreformtotheslave-hunterAbouSaood，whoheconsideredmightamendhisways，andfromhisknowledgeofthepeoplebecomeausefulofficertothegovernment。Unfortunately，theleopardcouldnotchangehisspots，andtheman，towhomeveryopportunityhadbeengiven，wasdismissedandpunished。ItwasimpossibletohavediscoveredanofficermorethoroughlyqualifiedforthecommandthanColonelGordon。Byprofessionamilitaryengineer，hecombinedtheknowledgeespeciallyrequiredforcarryingontheenterprise。Hehadextendedthehandoffriendshiptothenatives，butwhenrejectedwithcontemptandopposedbyhostility，hewaspromptinchastisement。Thewetseasonsandattendanthighfloodoftwoyearswereemployedindraggingthe108-tonsteelsteamerupthevariouscataractswhichintervenedbetweenGondokoroandDuflliN。lat。3degrees34
minutes。Thisportionoftheriverformedaseriesofstepscausedbyasuccessionofcataractsatintervalsofabout25miles；betweentheobstaclesthestreamwasnavigable。ThenativesofMoogitreacherouslyattackedandkilledthewholeofadetachment，includingtheFrenchofficerincommand，duringtheabsenceofColonelGordon，whowasengagedintheoperationoftowingthesteamerthroughtherapidsonlyafewmilesdistant。Thisopenhostilitynecessitatedthesubjugationofthetribe，andtheestablishmentofalineofmilitarypostsalongthecourseoftheriver。
Aftermuchtrouble，attheexpirationoftwoyearsthesteamerwasdraggedtoanutterlyimpassableseriesofcataractssouthofLobore。
Thislineofobstructionextendedfortheshortdistanceofabouttwelvemiles，beyondwhichtheriverwasnavigableintotheAlbertN’yanza。